Chuang Tzu in dream became a butterfly,
And the butterfly became Chuang Tzu at waking.
Which was the real—the butterfly or the man ?
Who can tell the end of the endless changes of things?
The water that flows into the depth of the distant sea
Returns anon to the shallows of a transparent stream.
The man, raising melons outside the green gate of the city,
Was once the Prince of the East Hill.
So must rank and riches vanish.
You know it, still you toil and toil,—what for?
Prepare an answer for the following questions"
Why does the author choose a butterfly? I think the author was considering the free nature of butterfly also its metamorphosis process.
What is the importance of the water cycle? Just like there is an order in the process of metamorphosis, in water cycle, there is a pattern and process that takes place.
What is the point about the 'man raising melons'? One's position and rank could vanish. They don't last forever.
What is the author attempting to convey to the reader? Things do not stay the same. Everything is constantly changing its form. Things do not last forever as they are.
The Tao of Pooh Question
#1-10: Sean D Kim
#11-21: Jungwook Kang
#22-32: Brian Kim
What is the significance of the painting Hoff describes named The Vinegar Tasters? (2)
In the painting Hoff described were three men, each with different reactions from tasting the vinegar. Those three men represents Three teachings of China. The first man, K'ung Fu-tse, who has sour look on his face, viewed the life very sour. The second man, Buddha, who has a bitter face, viewed the life very bitter. The third man, Lao-tse, who has a smile on his face, is the author of the oldest book of Taoism.
What is the theme of life according to Hoff’s interpretation of Taoism? (5-6)
The theme of life according to Hoff's interpretation of Taoism is happiness. Taoists just simply enjoy the happiness in life.
How does Hoff explain the “uncarved block” metaphor? (10)
Uncarved block is a metaphor which refers to simplicity. Instead of viewing things with complexity,
What is the secret message of the “uncarved block?” (2)
The secret message is that things should not be viewed with too much complexity. Too much thinking will only confuse the substantial meaning of things.
What was the main conflict between the Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff? (24)
The main conflicts between the Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff happens because Confucianist scholars are too intellectual. Their knowledge restricts them from understanding Taoism, which put emphasis on simplicity.
Which of Milne’s characters represent Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff?
The educated ones among Milne's characters, Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl represent Confucianists; on the other hand, the uneducated but simple one, Pooh represents Taoist.
What is Hoff’s opinion of Confucianist scholars? (26)
Hoff was rather negative towards the Confucianist scholars, for they cannot view things as they really are, but instead chooses to describe using fancy words that only they can understand. Their biased knowledge narrows their sight of seeing the nature as it is.
What does Hoff say about knowledge vs. experience? (29)
Hoff says that knowledge and experience are different. Knowledge obtained from experience are much more valuable than knowledge that did not.
What do most scholars blame for problems in the world? Why isn’t it justified? (32)
Scholars blame the non-educated people by rationalizing the problems. What they failed to understand is that their logic cannot find things to blame every time things go wrong because sometimes things happen beyond their logic.
What is the difference between “cleverness” and “Inner Nature?” (38)
The main difference between cleverness and Inner Nature is that Inner nature focuses on oneself when cleverness does not. While developing cleverness only means increasing knowledge like Confucian scholars, discovering Inner Nature is a self-actualization. It is becoming what you were meant to be when you are born; that requires discovering your innate talents and limit. According to taoism, developing Inner Nature is more important than cleverness.
11. Explain Hoff’s interpretation of the Chinese quote: “One disease, long life; No disease, short life.” (48)
Those who know what's wrong with them and take care of themselves accordingly will tend to live a lot longer than those who consider themselves perfectly healthy and neglect their weaknesses.
12. What does Hoff mean when he states that we must learn to “work with Things As They Are?” (50)
We do not need to find answers to "things." It would just make us conclude that there is no absolute answers and make us more curious about other questions.
13. What happens to people who do not listen to their Inner Nature? (57)
If people do not listen to their inner nature, they can be easily fooled. They do not understand them very much. Having little understanding of themselves, they have little respect for themselves, and are therefore easily influenced by others.
14. What is the Way of Self-Reliance? (57-8)
The way of Self-Reliance starts with recognizing who we are, what we've got to work with, and what works best for us.
15. How can we change ourselves effectively through the principles of Taoism? (58)
We can change ourselves effectively through discovering somethings about ourselves that we don't like. Then we can decide whether to get rid of them completely, change them into other thigns, or use them in beneficial ways.
16. What is the Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way” according to Hoff? (67-8)
Wu Wei or "The Pooh Way" is not to go against the nature of things; no clever tampering. It is like that of the water because it evolves from an inner sensitivity to the natural rhythm of things.
17. How does the quote, “Tao does not do, but nothing is not done,” explain Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way?” (70)
Tao doesn't force or interfere with things, but lets them work in their own way, to produce results naturally. This explain Wu Wei by supporting 'not going against nature of things.' Tao practices Wu Wei: he would work on nature and by little effort, he would see the things are done 'naturally.'
18. How does Tai Chi reflect Wu Wei or Taoism as a martial art? (87-8)
Martial art reuses opponent's force to reflect the energy back to the opponent. In the sense of natural flow and reflection, Wu Wei and martial art have congruent points. Wu Wei overcomes force by neutralizing power and by the understanding of the energy, one can use it again or counter it without much effort.
19. Are you a Bisy Backson? (94)
Pretty thoughtful question it is. In fact, I agree with the point. Yes, I am a Bisy Backson. When I work, exercise and play, I get stressed.
20. What is the Bisy Backson view of American history according to Hoff? (103-104)
American history is the history to change things. But Americans do not really eager to change themselves. Thus they would interfere with things they have no business interfering with. Although their behaviors are supervised by the wise, it is still not easy to control their tendencies.
24. What makes us happy in life the goals or the process we go through to reach the goals? Why? (111)
- It's the process we go through to reach the goals that make us happy, because, once the goal is reached, the goal doesn't mean so much. Reward is not so rewarding once the reward is given. However, the process one takes to reach the goal lasts forever, and is more meaningful.
25. What is the significance of The Stonecutter? (118-9)- The principle the stonecutter teaches is that one should be satisfied with his life and the given situation.
26. Explain the significance of the following line from the Tao Te Ching: “From caring comes courage.” (128)
- The significance of this phrase is that courage comes from the heart one has, not his knowledge or wisdom.
27. Where does one find Wisdom, Happiness and Courage? (137)
One finds wisdom, happiness, and courage could be found on one's journey. Those things are not found at the end of the journey. They all start from the beginning, on the way, and at the end.
28. What is the “Great Nothing?” (143)
The great nothing is an idea that there is something important which is really nothing at all.
29. Why is an “Empty sort of mind” so valuable according to Taoism? (146-7)
- Empty space is valuable according to Taoism because one can fill in the empty space with reasoning and peace. Also, one is able to look back at himself with on the empty space. One is not bothered by any other things.
30. Interpret the following quote: “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” (148-9)
It means in order to attain knowledge one has to be eager to learn and try to learn through many sources such as books or someone else who is knowledgable. However, in order to attain wisdom, one has to empty out his mind. He needs to remove unnecessary and useless knowledge to have some space for wisdom.
31. Why is the child the highest stage of development? (151)-Because their minds are empty and free from useless knowledge. They have space and open-minds to accept wisdom. They are more likely to accept something valuable into their open minds.
32. Why may knowledge and cleverness destroy life as we know it? (154)- Knowledge and cleverness might destroy one's life, because as one focuses so much to gain knowledge and cleverness one might become very egotistical. Also, as he only focuses on gaining knowledge, he might lose his own uniqueness and identity.
What do religions and philosophies have in common?
Both religions and philosophies set the standards in the lives of people who believe in them. They affect the decisions people make, the way people choose to do things, and etc. Also religions and philosophies set the morals in people's lives. Whether something is right or wrong is determined by the religion or the philosophy one holds. Also the religion and philosophies create conflicts. Occasionally, people who do not willing to accept different ideas from different religions or philosophies create conflicts. In the modern world, a lot of terrors are religion-related terrors.
And, why is it important to study religions and philosophies?
The biggest reason we study religions and philosophies would be to minimize the conflicts that are created from the differences in religions and philosophies. In globalized world with all different identities, it is impossible to keep all united. We need to accept the fact that there are people who are different from us. In order to do that, we first need to understand how their ideas and actions are created from their religions and philosophies.
Script: How does your religion impact your identity? Describe the journey
- Ever since I was born, I grew up in church.
- My grandpa started the small tent church which grew big.
-Both my dad’s side and mom’s side are Christians who place the Christian values and standard as the superiority.
-When I was little, I felt that all those stories of Jesus, Noah’s flood, Jonah being eaten by the fish, the towel of Babel, all those stories were just nice sounding stories that entertain me. When I attended the service, acted out the biblical character for the play at the church event, singing hymns in front of the congregation was to make my parents proud. I didn’t want to disappoint them. Those things had nothing to do with my own Christian faith.
-When I was in 7th grade, I went to the Christian school. There I realized that there are things that humans can’t possibly do by their own strengths. From studying what evolution theory can’t prove, those supernatural events that atheists couldn’t give the reason for made me to accept that there exists a God who plans everything.
-Sometimes when things don't go the way i want it to be or something bad happens to me, I doubt is there really god who looks out for me? But that’s what Christian journey is all about. Strengthening your faith by going through difficult and challenging circumstances.
How does your religion impact your family?
- Being honest.
-Charity work
-Witnessing to others
-My parents don’t drink
-Keep the family more united
-Whenever all our families gather for holiday, we start out by having a service. How does the your religion impact the society you live in?
- Well, there are a lot of big churches near where I live. A lot of the big churches, besides, running the services, they offer a lot of different variety of programs for all age groups starting from little kindergarten to elder people. For little children they offer classes like clay lessons, learning the instruments class, and etc. For older people they offer singing class, class teaching how to restore the relationships and etc. Aside from the religious works, a lot of big churches serve communities’ needs. They also do a lot of charity works to help the poor in the community.
F Younghyun Kim(Brian) - Ancient History Unit 3
Current Event Page
Christianity
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Shamanism
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Shintoism
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Legalism
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Taoism
Essential Questions of Taoism
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Chuang Tzu And The Butterfly Analysis
Chuang Tzu in dream became a butterfly,And the butterfly became Chuang Tzu at waking.
Which was the real—the butterfly or the man ?
Who can tell the end of the endless changes of things?
The water that flows into the depth of the distant sea
Returns anon to the shallows of a transparent stream.
The man, raising melons outside the green gate of the city,
Was once the Prince of the East Hill.
So must rank and riches vanish.
You know it, still you toil and toil,—what for?
Prepare an answer for the following questions"
The Tao of Pooh Question
#1-10: Sean D Kim
#11-21: Jungwook Kang
#22-32: Brian Kim
What is the significance of the painting Hoff describes named The Vinegar Tasters? (2)
In the painting Hoff described were three men, each with different reactions from tasting the vinegar. Those three men represents Three teachings of China. The first man, K'ung Fu-tse, who has sour look on his face, viewed the life very sour. The second man, Buddha, who has a bitter face, viewed the life very bitter. The third man, Lao-tse, who has a smile on his face, is the author of the oldest book of Taoism.
What is the theme of life according to Hoff’s interpretation of Taoism? (5-6)
How does Hoff explain the “uncarved block” metaphor? (10)
What is the secret message of the “uncarved block?” (2)
What was the main conflict between the Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff? (24)
Which of Milne’s characters represent Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff?
What is Hoff’s opinion of Confucianist scholars? (26)
What does Hoff say about knowledge vs. experience? (29)
What do most scholars blame for problems in the world? Why isn’t it justified? (32)
What is the difference between “cleverness” and “Inner Nature?” (38)
11. Explain Hoff’s interpretation of the Chinese quote: “One disease, long life; No disease, short life.” (48)
Those who know what's wrong with them and take care of themselves accordingly will tend to live a lot longer than those who consider themselves perfectly healthy and neglect their weaknesses.
12. What does Hoff mean when he states that we must learn to “work with Things As They Are?” (50)
We do not need to find answers to "things." It would just make us conclude that there is no absolute answers and make us more curious about other questions.
13. What happens to people who do not listen to their Inner Nature? (57)
If people do not listen to their inner nature, they can be easily fooled. They do not understand them very much. Having little understanding of themselves, they have little respect for themselves, and are therefore easily influenced by others.
14. What is the Way of Self-Reliance? (57-8)
The way of Self-Reliance starts with recognizing who we are, what we've got to work with, and what works best for us.
15. How can we change ourselves effectively through the principles of Taoism? (58)
We can change ourselves effectively through discovering somethings about ourselves that we don't like. Then we can decide whether to get rid of them completely, change them into other thigns, or use them in beneficial ways.
16. What is the Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way” according to Hoff? (67-8)
Wu Wei or "The Pooh Way" is not to go against the nature of things; no clever tampering. It is like that of the water because it evolves from an inner sensitivity to the natural rhythm of things.
17. How does the quote, “Tao does not do, but nothing is not done,” explain Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way?” (70)
Tao doesn't force or interfere with things, but lets them work in their own way, to produce results naturally. This explain Wu Wei by supporting 'not going against nature of things.' Tao practices Wu Wei: he would work on nature and by little effort, he would see the things are done 'naturally.'
18. How does Tai Chi reflect Wu Wei or Taoism as a martial art? (87-8)
Martial art reuses opponent's force to reflect the energy back to the opponent. In the sense of natural flow and reflection, Wu Wei and martial art have congruent points. Wu Wei overcomes force by neutralizing power and by the understanding of the energy, one can use it again or counter it without much effort.
19. Are you a Bisy Backson? (94)
Pretty thoughtful question it is. In fact, I agree with the point. Yes, I am a Bisy Backson. When I work, exercise and play, I get stressed.
20. What is the Bisy Backson view of American history according to Hoff? (103-104)
American history is the history to change things. But Americans do not really eager to change themselves. Thus they would interfere with things they have no business interfering with. Although their behaviors are supervised by the wise, it is still not easy to control their tendencies.
24. What makes us happy in life the goals or the process we go through to reach the goals? Why? (111)
- It's the process we go through to reach the goals that make us happy, because, once the goal is reached, the goal doesn't mean so much. Reward is not so rewarding once the reward is given. However, the process one takes to reach the goal lasts forever, and is more meaningful.
25. What is the significance of The Stonecutter? (118-9)- The principle the stonecutter teaches is that one should be satisfied with his life and the given situation.
26. Explain the significance of the following line from the Tao Te Ching: “From caring comes courage.” (128)
- The significance of this phrase is that courage comes from the heart one has, not his knowledge or wisdom.
27. Where does one find Wisdom, Happiness and Courage? (137)
One finds wisdom, happiness, and courage could be found on one's journey. Those things are not found at the end of the journey. They all start from the beginning, on the way, and at the end.
28. What is the “Great Nothing?” (143)The great nothing is an idea that there is something important which is really nothing at all.
29. Why is an “Empty sort of mind” so valuable according to Taoism? (146-7)
- Empty space is valuable according to Taoism because one can fill in the empty space with reasoning and peace. Also, one is able to look back at himself with on the empty space. One is not bothered by any other things.
30. Interpret the following quote: “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” (148-9)It means in order to attain knowledge one has to be eager to learn and try to learn through many sources such as books or someone else who is knowledgable. However, in order to attain wisdom, one has to empty out his mind. He needs to remove unnecessary and useless knowledge to have some space for wisdom.
31. Why is the child the highest stage of development? (151)-Because their minds are empty and free from useless knowledge. They have space and open-minds to accept wisdom. They are more likely to accept something valuable into their open minds.
32. Why may knowledge and cleverness destroy life as we know it? (154)- Knowledge and cleverness might destroy one's life, because as one focuses so much to gain knowledge and cleverness one might become very egotistical. Also, as he only focuses on gaining knowledge, he might lose his own uniqueness and identity.s
___
Confucianism
Religion and Philosophy
What do religions and philosophies have in common?
Both religions and philosophies set the standards in the lives of people who believe in them. They affect the decisions people make, the way people choose to do things, and etc. Also religions and philosophies set the morals in people's lives. Whether something is right or wrong is determined by the religion or the philosophy one holds. Also the religion and philosophies create conflicts. Occasionally, people who do not willing to accept different ideas from different religions or philosophies create conflicts. In the modern world, a lot of terrors are religion-related terrors.
And, why is it important to study religions and philosophies?
The biggest reason we study religions and philosophies would be to minimize the conflicts that are created from the differences in religions and philosophies. In globalized world with all different identities, it is impossible to keep all united. We need to accept the fact that there are people who are different from us. In order to do that, we first need to understand how their ideas and actions are created from their religions and philosophies.
Script:
How does your religion impact your identity? Describe the journey
- Ever since I was born, I grew up in church.
- My grandpa started the small tent church which grew big.
-Both my dad’s side and mom’s side are Christians who place the Christian values and standard as the superiority.
-When I was little, I felt that all those stories of Jesus, Noah’s flood, Jonah being eaten by the fish, the towel of Babel, all those stories were just nice sounding stories that entertain me. When I attended the service, acted out the biblical character for the play at the church event, singing hymns in front of the congregation was to make my parents proud. I didn’t want to disappoint them. Those things had nothing to do with my own Christian faith.
-When I was in 7th grade, I went to the Christian school. There I realized that there are things that humans can’t possibly do by their own strengths. From studying what evolution theory can’t prove, those supernatural events that atheists couldn’t give the reason for made me to accept that there exists a God who plans everything.
-Sometimes when things don't go the way i want it to be or something bad happens to me, I doubt is there really god who looks out for me? But that’s what Christian journey is all about. Strengthening your faith by going through difficult and challenging circumstances.
How does your religion impact your family?
- Being honest.
-Charity work
-Witnessing to others
-My parents don’t drink
-Keep the family more united
-Whenever all our families gather for holiday, we start out by having a service.
How does the your religion impact the society you live in?
- Well, there are a lot of big churches near where I live. A lot of the big churches, besides, running the services, they offer a lot of different variety of programs for all age groups starting from little kindergarten to elder people. For little children they offer classes like clay lessons, learning the instruments class, and etc. For older people they offer singing class, class teaching how to restore the relationships and etc. Aside from the religious works, a lot of big churches serve communities’ needs. They also do a lot of charity works to help the poor in the community.
___
Buddhism